Woodfibre LNG Ltd has announced that it has submitted an application to amend its environmental assessment certificate (EAC) that it was awarded on 26 October 2015 for the construction of the Woodfibre LNG project.

The proposed changes are the result of the Squamish Nation’s selection of air cooling as the cooling technology for the project, as well as ongoing front end engineering and design (FEED) work. Although Squamish Nation issued an environmental certificate for the project on 14 October 2015, one of the conditions was that it would be able to choose the cooling technology that it finds acceptable.

The proposed changes are as follows: switching from seawater cooling to air cooling of the plant; upgrading an existing intake on Mill Creek rather than building a new intake; and short-term use of water from Woodfibre Creek during the construction phase.

These changes would need the EAC to be amended under British Columbia’s (B.C.) Environmental Assessment Act.

“As the result of the Squamish Nation process, and ongoing FEED work, we believe Woodfibre LNG is setting the standard for incorporating First Nations and community priorities into the design and operation of the facility.”

The proposed changes will be subject to a technical review (federal and provincial regulators in addition to municipal government representatives and First Nations) and a 30 day public consultation period. The public is able to comment on the potential effects that the changes would have from 9 February 2017 to 11 March 2017.